When JBJ wanted to replace Phil X... Lol
Interviewer: Speaking of lead guitar, I've been told you auditioned a few years back to become Bon Jovi's lead guitarist and were very close to getting that gig. Is that true?
Damon Johnson: Well. let’s just say that I did have a jam with those guys. There was a minute, about four years ago they weren’t really sure what they were going to do - (guitarist Richie) Sambora was out, he was back in, then he was back out, they did a run of dates without him. And so, Jon (Bon Jovi, singer) and I have a mutual friend and that mutual friend mentioned me to him and Jon was in Nashville, we had a meeting, it was a good hang and he was like, “Yeah. Here’s a list of,” I think, “five songs,” all the ones you would think. And so, I went up and had a jam. And it was awesome.
Interviewer: Those are good songs.
Damon Johnson: Great songs. And certainly, one of the most surreal things I've ever experienced, you know standing close enough to (Bon Jovi drummer) Tico Torres' hi-hat that I could like thump it with my right hand. That's where I stood. Everyone was on headphones, it was that kind of thing. I had a blast playing those songs. I can't hit those vocal notes man that Sambora hits. I'm not ashamed to admit that. Some of those biggest hits, like "Livin' on a Prayer," Jon is singing way out of his range well then Sambora was singing a harmony on top of that. I can play all if that guitar stuff, easy. But Richie is a special talent.
So, what they ended up doing was they kept working with Phil X, who is an incredible guitar player and singer and they also added my old friend John Shanks, who has produced the last two or three records for the band, and so they simply added John as a second guitar player. And they're carrying on. But yeah, that's another story for the great grandkids one day.
https://www.al.com/life/2019/03/did-...-bon-jovi.html